There is still time to volunteer.
The whale count is sponsored by the Los Angeles Chapter of the AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY and is staffed by trained volunteers from that society as well as the Cabrillo Whalewatch Program. They record weather data once an hour and watch for whales from Point Vicente (where there is a lighthouse) from December 1st through late May, seven days a week.
Excerpt: Spotters also detail migratory behaviors observed, including breaching, spyhopping, rolling, courtship, apparent nursing, possible feeding, and interaction with kept and with other marine mammals. Participants also note possible human impacts on gray whales, including boat interactions, possible harassment incidents, and entanglements. In addition we identify and record behaviors of any other marine mammals that utilize these waters including common dolphin, Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Pacific white-sided dolphin, Risso's dolphin, northern right whale dolphin, Dall's porposide, sperm whales, minke whales, humpback whates, blue whales, fin whales, California sea lions, harbor seals, northern elephant seals, and southern sea otters.